Waitoa Deposits.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 227, 5 November 1887, Page 1

Waitoa Deposits.

A few months ago a syndicate was formed in Auckland, having for its object the thorough and truthful testing of the deposits at Waitoa. The arrangements connected with the operations were left in the hands of Messrs Paten Brothers. The idea was to thoroughlyprospect thecountry, and if the results were satisfactory to acqnirean areaof land to work for the benefitof thesyndicate. Operations were conducted in a business-like manner, arrangements being made with j\lr Gould to purchase 700 acres should the ,r,e,sults of the preliminary tests prove satisfactory, "Mr Gould allowed the .syndicate the right to select the land from any portion of his 20,000 acres of freehold. Messrs Paten Brothers went down to the Waitoa themselves, and sank two shafts upon Mr Goulds property. The greatest care was taken that no, assistance should be rendered to nature, in order that any gold found should be absolutely the product of the deposit. One shaft was put down 15 feet on the river side, while the other was sunk .'JO feet in the swamp. About 4£ tons of dirt was bagged and sent down to Auckland, where it has been treated at Messrs G, Fraser and Son's works in Stanley-street. Preliminary assays were made, the l'esults of which rather raised the hopes of the shareholders. Complete tests have, however, now been made in Mr Frasers mill, with a i-esult that has thoroughly satisfied the prospectors that if they want gold they must look somewhere else for it. Tho following is the results as given by Messrs Fraser : — Messrs Paten and party, prospecting Mr Goulds property at Waitoa. First te3t from No. 2 shaft, No. 5 top of shaft, 5 bags of deposit, 8211b, less 25 per cent, moisture and sacks, 6161b. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ooz Odwb 4 5 grains of bullion. Valued at £2 16s 4d per oz. Rated at per ton, Ooz Odwt 15 5 grains. Value, Is lOd. — G. Fraser and Son. 9 sacks test from shaft No. 2. 9 bags deposit 1,4741b, less 25 per cent, moisture, 1,1051b, dry. Return from direct panamal1 gamation, 12 grains. Valued at -£3 Is 5d per oz in gold only. Rated at per ton, Ooz ldwt 212 grains, valued 3s 4d. — G. Fraser and Son. These tests were from the Is>feet shaft on the river side, and as they werescarcely satisfactory the dirt from" the 30 feet shaft in the swamp was next treated. The test was completed on Saturday with the following results : — " Mr Paten and party, prospecting Mr Goulds property at Waitoa. "Gentlemen, — Herewith we hand you third and fourth tests of deposits from Mr Goulds property, viz., 35 bags of deposit, 2 tons 16cwt and lqr, less bags and moisture, 2 tons OcWt 2qr. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ooz Odwt 2f grains, valued at ,£2 10s per ton. Rated at per ton, Ooz Odwt I*3 grains, l^d. Assay per ton, bullion Ooz Bdwt 4 grains. Gold trace : silver, Bdwt4 grains. No. 24— 24 bag 3 of deposit ; 1 ton 19cwfc, less moisture and bags 1 ton Bcwt 141b. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ocz. Odwb 1.2 grains. Valued at per oz., £2 10. Rated at per ton, o'Bsgrs ; actual valuo, Id. Assay per ton : Bullion Bdwt. 4grs. ; gold, trace ; silver, Bdwfc. 4gr.< — Yours truly, George Fraser and Son. "

No. 1 SHAFT. Top of Shaft, Surface of Soil. 8 Sackß. 7 ft. strata. Particulars of shaft next to well Brown Clay, between blow holes. 3J ft. white sandy formation, 8 Sacks. impregnated Layer or seam of with icon and i in. thick. ■ mica. 6} ft. 8 Sacks. White clay. 13 ft. yellow wash.impreg35 Saoks. - natcd with iron and mica. Bottom of Shaft. *>"■***>■ *?*««£££

No. 2 SHAFT. Top o£ Shaft. 1} ft. surface soil. r Q, M .« # iL Of Whita o aacKs. sandy forma. tion. i Bift.wlntesand« stone. 9 sack?, 15 ft. deep. Not through ' this strata. This shaft is next to creek and above one mile away from shaft between blow-holes. It is noedless to state that in the face of such results the syndicate are not going to proceed further with their investigation a 6 Waitoa. Three half -pence worth of bullion and a trace of gold per ton of dirt is certainly somewhat discouraging, as is also the second result of one pennyivorth of bullion and a trace of gold per ton, the highest returns being that at the river side of 3s 4d per ton. There is, of course, still the possibility that the gold, may be deeper down but with such slight returns at the surface it would require an. amount of faith to get any person inclined to dig deeper to find the gold.